Combination library and dining table



A. H. STONE.

comammon uamuw AND DINING TABLE.

} APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. l91.6. 1,325,454.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

a l ns-susn l WITNESSES:

147T IVEY A. H.- S'TON'E.

COMBINATION LIBRARY AND mums TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I916.

1,325,454. I Patented Dec. 16,1919.

QSHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES: INV NTOR A. H. STONE.

COMBINATION LIBRARY AND DINING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I916.

1,325,454. Patented Dec. 16,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESS 8: I Ill/VENTOR 7 a/wim.

' A BY f A mm and inexpensive construction.

ANDREW H. STONE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINATION LIBRARY AND DINING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16,-1919.

Application filedMay 29, 1916. Serial No. 100,626.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .1, ANDREW H. STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Library and DiningTables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combination library and dining tablesand has forits object to producea structure which can be con-- verted from a library .into an extension dining table or Vice yersa .ea'sily iconye'n ie'ntly, and which, in either'form', issolid, rigid and substantial,' a further 'object being to produce aconvertible table of'simple V W' h .Qbi esmme new he. i c

jtion consists in certain .novel and peculiar features of construction andlorfgamzatmn of parts; as hereinafter described "and claimed, and in orderthat i t .may ,more fully understood reference is to behhad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a top .plan View of the. structure. arranged in full lines as a library' table and in dotted lines as a'dining tablesa quar- I tersection of the top being cut away toeX- poseone of the slide extensions of the tabletop supporting frame, one of the end.exten- -sions of the top .and one ofthe corner wings of said extension. I I

F1g. 2, is an. enlarged central transverse section of the table, on the line II -II of;

Fig. 3, and also shows theportion which constitutes the entire'topofthe table when the same is used as a llbi'ary table, in elevated position in dotted li nes.

Fig. 3, is an inverted plan ,view of the .lower edge of .the table lframe, to clearly show the swiveled stem of the table top, and means for limiting the rotatable movement of said stem, and cooperating means for raising the stem and looking it. in raised or lowered position.

Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the table with the portion constituting the top of the structure when used as a library table extending transversely of the table frame, and one of the slides of said frame extended.

Fig. 5, isa side View of the table with all of the parts in the position which they occupy in Fig. 4, but with one of the table 'ta le.

theportionomitted which constitutes the top of the structure when used as a libraryltable, and also showing one of the end extensions audits wings vin'th'e position saidfparts ocon y Whenthestructure is used as dining Fig. 7, is anenlarged section" taken' on the line VII-VIIdfQFig. 1, whenjthestructure is arranged" as a dining table shown by "dotted lines in said figure.

, ,Fig. 8,.is an enlarged section taken onthe "use VIII'VIII 'O'fJFig. 6.

ffFig. 9,'is ,a section onan enlarged scale of ai pa'rt .dffthe table fltop taken "on "the line IX- .IX. of 6, and Fig. 10 is aperspective iew of a corner of :the frame. Referring to the drawings in detail, 'l'inidicates'the stationary sides ofthe 'frame of the tibld-Q is a central cross pieceor bridge securedio said sides, .3 are shallower .cross pieces r gidly connecting'sidesl {at the ends thereof. saidsidesand cross pieces constitutaiigid frame.

At opposite sides of the central cross piece the sides 1' are provided on theininnersurfaces with longitudinal guide tongues 4'; the

outer ends of thesame oyerlying "the end cross piece 3.

' 'The sides have securedon their lower edges longitudinal beading strips 5, similar beading strips .6' being, secured to and proecting outwardly from'the lower edge o'fthe cross strips 3. Underlying the central cross piece '2 and occupying the same horizontal planeas the bending strips is 'a cross-strip 7 and also connecting beading strips'5, a "short distanceinward from beading strips6 are end .cross' strips 18. ".At theirlouter' corners the end, cross pieces 3 are provided with'v'ertical openings -9 for'receiving upwardly projecting tenons 10 {formed at the upper ends of the legs '11 or the't'able. The end pairs of legs are shown asconnecme'd between cross 'beading6 and cross strips8 with cross pieces 12 (see'FigsJG and 7) and extending downwardly from cross pieces 12 are vertical slats 13 secured at their lower ends'to cross piece 14 connecting the legs near the lower ends thereof, and connecting-cross pieces 14; is a longitudinally extending shelf 15. It is to be understood in this connection that the character or form of the support forthe frame of the table forms no essential part of this invention and is susceptible of change without affecting the'construction and operation of the frame and operative parts hereinafter described.

At each side of the central cross piece 2' and adapted for longitudinal sliding movement between the sides 1 is a rectangular slide extension 16 for the frame described,

the outer ends of said extension projecting beyond the sides thereof and having their end extremities beveled as at 17, so that when the slide extensions are in closed position said beveled ends shall abut against the ends of the sides land fit snugly in recesses 18. formed in the end extremities of said sides 1 as shown clearly in Fig. .1. The outer surfaces of the sides of the slide extensions are formed with longitudinal grooves 19 receiving the tongues 4 on. the inner surfaces of the sides 1, and'in orderfthat the endsof the frame shall be uniform i'n appearance with the sides thereof, the'outer. cross pieces of the. slide extensionsdepend; below the sides of the said extensions 'to the level;pf

'the uppersurface of thecross beads 6, which beads they overlie whentlie slide'ex'tensions are in closedposition. It will be noticed by reference particularly to 7 that. the

abutting surface-ofthe end .cross'piece's 3 of the frame and "the outer cross pieces of the slide extensions are beveled at corresponding angles. 5 y i The slide extensions are each provided with bottom strips 20. and .21, .the former preferably wider than thelatter, andeach of said bottom strips is provided at its inner 7 corner .withv an opening 22, for apurpose whichhereinafter appears Strip 20 is also provided with a longitudinal extension 23 constituting a guide which extends through an opening 24 in cross piece-2, the, openings 7 24 for the strips .20 of the two slide extensions, being located-at opposite sides-of the center of cross strip 2,.it beingnoted that the strips 21 of the slide extensions are narrower than the strips'20 in order that said strips 21 may be overlapped at theinner edges by the extensions-23 when hothextensions are in closed position which will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 6, where the right-hand slide extension is represented in extended or open position. The extensions 23 are never withdrawn from the openings 24 and therefore in conjunction with the sides 1 insure direct sliding or reciprocatingaction of the slide extensions without any possibility of the same becoming cramped and interfere with the freedom of such movement.

pieces of the slide extensions, with laterally projecting shoulders or stops 25 facing toward the opposite sides of the slide extensions, and. at intermediate points between said shoulders or stops 25 and the outer ends orcross strips of said slide extensions, the inner edges of bottom strips 20 are provided with looking notches 26.

27 are turn buttons secured to the inner edges of the end cross strips 3 of the frame, and adapted when adjusted to substantially vertical position to occupy the path of outward movement ofthe steps 25 for the purpose of preventing the slide extensions from being accidentally withdrawn from position preliminary to converting the structure from a library table into a dining table or from adining table into a library table, the buttons being adapted to be pressed into engagement with'the notches 26 to lock the slide extensions against outward movement whenthe structure is converted into a dining table, the saidslide extensions at such time occupying a position intermediate of theirclosed and fully opened positions, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 7.

The section or portion 28 of thestructure,

;Wl1lCl'l"CQI1S l'/lt11tES: the entire top thereof when used as ,a library table and the central ,portion .ofthe topwhen the structure is used as a dining table corresponds in form to and slightlyexceeds the area of the top of the frameand is adapted when used as the top of the library table, to extend longitudinally of and rest flatly down upon the sides 1 and the outer cross strips or ends of the slide extensions, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and said .top is provided around its edges with depending beading strips 29 to fit snugly against the outer surfaces of said sides 1 (see Fig. 2) and the outer cross pieces of theslide extensions and thereby prevent outward movement of the latter, the said head ing strips'29 being preferably of angle form ,and terminating below the plane of the upper surfaces of section 28 so as to produce a step shaped recess 30 around the latter, this recess giving an ornamental efiect or. finish to the top and having another function hereinafter mentioned.

Secured to the top section 28 at the underside and centrally thereof is a bracket 31 comprising crossed arms, and depending from said .bracket is a vertical swivel pin 3.2 journaled in a vertical opening 33 in the central cross piece 2 and cross strip 7, per forated plates 34 and 35 being secured to the said cross piece and cross strip to pro vide the actual bearing for the swiveled pin in its rotatable and vertical movements, as hereinafter referred to. Near its lower end the swiveled pin is provided with a pair of horizontal perforations 36 and fitting therein are the legs of a horizontally arranged staple "37,- a "clamping screw 38 extending up into the 'pin'and bearing against one leg of the staple to hold the same firmly in position.

Arranged under the cross strip 7 is a lever 39 fitting loosely around the swiveled pin between the legs of the staple, and said lever extends loosely through and fulcrums on a bracket-40 secured to cross strip 7. It also extends through a bracket 41 depending 10 from said cross strip 7, said bracket 41 having an arm 42 pr ecting from one of its sides at an intermediate point thereof so that the lever may overlie said arm or underlie it, it being understood that the slot or opening of both brackets exceeds the width of the lever to allow for sufficient lateral adjustment of'the latter to move it from a position above to a position below said arm. To clamp andlockthe'top' section 28 in the position s'hownby full-lines Figs. 1 and 2, the outer'end of-the lever is pressed upward andthenfswung to the right "'to cause it to overlie the arm'42 ofbracket '41. When it is desired'to raise and secure the top section 28 in "the'po'sition shown by Figs. 4 an'd', theleverl is'swung 'tothe left "from over arm 42' to unlockit. Pressure is then applied to cause it to fulcrum on bracket and assume the position shown by dotted '30 lines Fig.2, and fulllines Fig. 5,'the lever being then swung to the right to caus'eitto underlie arm 42, as shown inFig. 5, and thus support the top in its elevated position, and while thus elevated it can'be swung fromthe '35 position shown by full lines Fig.2 to the' position shown by dotted lines'same figure and "full lines Figs. 4 and 5 or'from the'last named position to the position shown by full lines Fig.2. "To limitthe rotatable move- 40 ment of said top section to 'a' quarter revolution a palr of stops 43 and 44 are secured to and'depend from cross strip'7, the staple 37 engaging stop 43 when the top section occupies the position shown .by 'full lines,

45 Fig. 2, and the stop 44 when'said top section (IXZCHPlQS the position shown 'by full lines ig. 4. l

The top section .28 mustfbe raised not only to permit it to'be rotated but also to permit of the adjustment of the slide extensions and of the withdrawal from the slide extensions of the table top extensions'comprising the central sections 45 and the wings 46 thereof. Normally the central top extensions 45 lie snugly within and upon the bottom strips 20 and 21 of the slide extensions respectively, and, are invisible when the structure is in the form of a library table as will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 1. It will be '60 noticed that the wings 46 at such time are "folded inwardly and lie, upon the central sections with their inner or straight edges flush with the straight side edges. of section 45, and that said flush edges are hingedly connected. The hinged connections are such that when the wings are swung outwardly they :assume the horizontal plane of section 45'with their said straight edges abutting securely together. There are a plurality of hinges for each wing, and each preferably consists of a link 47 fitting and pivoted at "its opposite ends in U-shaped members 01' brackets 48, one of such members being inset 1 in the'side edges of section 45 and the other "in the adjacent straight edge of the associated wing.

Before the wings can be unfolded to the position shown by full lines at the left hand end of Fig. 6, it is necessary to raise the sections 45 out of the slide extensions and topermit of this operation and yet retain'the sections 45 in permanent connection with their respective slide extensions, U- shaped rocker bars pivotally link sections 45 to their respective slide extensions. 'bridge portions 49 of said rocker bars ex- The tend through transverse grooves 50 in the underside of sect ons 45 nearthe inner edges of the latter and are retained therein by bearing caps 51 (see Fig.7). 'The sides or arms 52 of the rocker bars occupy the spaces "'bet-weenthe side edges of sections 45 and the sides of theslide extensions, and termi- 'nate 'in outwardlyprojecting ends 53 extending through and pivoted in the sides of the slide extensions, as shown most clearly at the righthand end of Fig. 5*, it being noticed in this connection that when'the sections 45 fit within the slide extensions as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 4,the bearing caps "51 depend into the openings '22, of the bottom strips 20 an'd'21 of the slide extensions, :this accommodation of said bearing caps permitting the sections 45 to lie flatly upon said bottom strips. hen it is desired to withdraw the sections 45 from the slide extensions. the opright hand ends of Figs. 5 and 6, where it will be noticed the section 45 rests upon the outer end or cross piece of the slide extension, it being also noticed by reference to Fig. '7. that the outward movement of the section is'limited through the abutment of the ,arm 52 of the rocker bar 49 against the downwardly and inwardly sloping edges of stop blocks secured to the inner surfaces of the sides of the slide extensions.

After the sections 45 have been withdrawn from within the slide extensions, the wings canbe unfolded, but before this operation can be properly performed certain braces must be preliminarily adjusted, as said braces in their folded or inoperative positions prevent the complete unfolding of the wings. In this connection it will be noticed that the wings are provided with recesses 46 for receiving the rocker bars at the junction of their bridge portions and arms, when the wings are unfolded, these recesses being necessary because the rocker bars are set in the top extensions 45 and the wings correspond in thickness to said extensions 45 and abut squarely against the side edges of the latter, when unfolded. The above mentioned braces comprise transverse rods 55 for engagement when folded with transverse grooves 56 in the underside of wings 46. One end of each brace terminates. in a pivoted arm 57 .pivotally engaging the wing and a pivot-retaining plate 58, secured to the underside of said wing. The outer end of the brace terminates in a hook 59 which when the wing is foldedand the companion .section 45 is within the slide extension, ex-

tends downwardlyj' between the inner or straight edge of the wing and the adjacent side of the associated slide extension. ,When the associated section 45 occupies the position shown in-Fig. 5, the hook-end of said brace must be raised to permit the wing to be fully unfolded as Well as to permit said brace to' be swung inwardly and upwardly until its hook-end 59- 'engages an opening 60 formed in the adjacent bottom strip of the slide extension, as shown clearly in Fig. 8, the contiguous side of the slide extensionbeing diagonally grooved as at 61 to accommodate the inclined brace, as also shown in the last named figure.

Assuming that the table section 28 has been raised, that the slide extensions have been drawn outward until arrested by the contact of stops 25 With turn buttons 27,

that the top section 28 has then been turned 90 degrees to extend transversely ,across the frame, that the extension sections 45 have been withdrawn from the slide extensions, and that the wings have-been unfolded and secured by the braces in the position shown by full lines at the left hand end of Fig. 6, the operator completes the conversion of the structure into a dining table as follows: He manipulates the lever 39 to effect the lowering of the top section 28 and the locking of the same in its new position, and in this connection it will be noted that the sides 1 are provided with recesses 62 to receive the side portions of the beads 29 so that the top may rest flatly upon sides 1. Pressure is then applied to move the slide extensions inwardly until arrested by the abutment of the inner edges of the sections 45 and the unfolded sections 46, against the opposing edges of the section 28, it being noticed that the inner edges of section 45 and wings are rabbeted as at 63 and 64 respectively in order to coiiperate with the rabbeted or beaded edges of section 28v in producing a step joint connection as shown clearly in Fig. 7, it being also noticed by reference to the last named figure that the braces 55 at such time are outward of the ends of the frame and thus do not interfere with the inward adj ustment of their respective slide extensions by abutment against the ends of the frame. The slide extensions are locked in engagement with the section 28 by causing the turn {buttons to engage the notches 26 in the inner edges of the bottom strips 20 of said slide extensions.

When the parts are thus arranged the dining table is complete and the movable parts are so solidly connected and braced that the table can bepushed about a room by applying force against any part of it, it-being noted that the tongue and groove connection between the slide extensions and the, stationary sides 1 of the frame insure rigidity as regards up and down movement -ofsaidislide extensions, and that the wings and the adjustment of the inner edges of the sections 45,against section 28 coiiperate ,inguarding against upward swinging movementv of'the former and the wings, and that the latter are prevented from swinging .downward by said braces and by resting uponthe upper edges of the sides and outer cross pieces or ends of the slide extensions and by the hinges connecting said wings .Nviththe interposed sections 45.

The operations above described as necessary to convert the structure into a dining table are reversed to reconvert such table into a library table, it being noted in this connection and by reference to Figs. 1 and 4. that when the top extensions 45 and folded wings are within the slide extensions, the depending or hook ends of the braces 55 are disposed beyond the outer ends of the .stops 54 and hence may be folded completely within the grooves 56 in said wings.

.For library purposes it is-desirable that the table be equipped with drawers 65, the same extending slidingly through one of the sides 1. and each rests upon the cross strips Y 7 and 8 below the slide extensions, the drawers being provided at their front or exposed ends with handles or buttons 66 by which to manipulate them, one of said drawers being shown as partly withdrawn or opened, in Fig. 6.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a device of the character outlined, embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that it is susceptible of modification in minor particulars Without departing from the principle of construction involved or sacrificing any of the advantages of the appended claims.

I claim 1. Ina convertible table, stationary sides having opposite recesses in their upper edges, slide extensions supported by and.

- said side beads being adapted to depend into the said recesses after the top is ad justed to extend crosswise of the saidsides,

means to clamp thesaid top. in-thelast-' named position or in the position it occupies when the side beads and end beads respectively lie outward of said sides and cross pieces, extensions forsaid topisecured to and resting on said slide extensions and abutting against the side'edgesrof said top when in its transverse position, nieans to wings hinged to and flanking the same: when in unfolded osition and resting on the same when in fol ed position, and braces pivoted to said wings at their undersides and-engaging and underlying said slide extensions r to secure the wings in their unfolded positions.

2. In a convertible table, a slide extension comprising parallel sides, cross pieces connecting the sides,, and spaced bottom strips connecting the cross pieces, a foldable table top extension adapted when folded "to rest in the slide extension and upon the bottom strips thereof and when unfolded upon the outer cross pieces and sides of the slide extension, and consisting of a central section and two wings hinged thereto to lie when folded upon said central section and when unfolded in the same horizontal plane as and abut the side edges of the latter, a U-shaped rocker bar having its bridge portion pivoted to said central section of the extension and havin the free ends of its arms pivoted in the sides of the slide extension, and stop braces secured to the inner surfaces of the sides of the slide extension and adapted to serve as a rest for the arms of the U-shaped rocker bar when the table top extension is resting on the outer cross piece and sides of the shde extension.

3. In a convertible table, a slide extension comprising parallel sides, cross pieces con necting the sides, and spaced bottom strips connecting the cross pieces, a foldable table top extension adapted when folded to rest in the slide extension and upon the bottom strips thereof and when unfolded upon the outer cross piece and sides of the slide extension, and consisting of a central section and two wings hinged thereto to lie when folded upon said central section and when unfolded to lie in the same horizontal plane as and abut the side edges of the'latter, a U-shaped rocker bar having its bridge portion pivoted to said central section of the extension and having the free ends of its arms pivoted in the sides of the slide extension, stop braces secured to the inner surfaces of the sides of the slide extension and adapted to serve as a rest for the arms of the U-shaped rocker bar when the table top extension is resting on the outer cross piece and sides of the slide extension, and braces pivoted to said wings and lying within the slide extension when the top extensionis :folded and resting on said bottom strips, and extending downward and inward from the wings and engaging the slide extension when the top extension is unfolded to' secure thezwings against folding movement; W

1, 4., In a convertible table, a chambered slide extension, a foldable table top extension adapted when folded to rest in the sliding extension and when unfolded upon the top of said extension,tand consisting of a cen tral section and two wings hinged thereto toi=lie:w hen folded upon said central section and when unfolded in the same horizontal plane as and abut the side edges of the latter, a u-shaped rocker bar having its bridge portion pivoted to said central section and the free ends of its arms pivoted in the sides of the slide extension, and means rigid with the slide extension for serving as a;rest for the arms of the said rocker bar when the vtable top extension is unfolded andzresting on top ofthe slide extension.

:5. In a convertible table, a chambered slide extension, a foldable table top extension adapted when folded to rest in the sliding extension and when unfolded upon the top of said extension, and consisting of a central section and two wings hinged thereto to lie when folded upon said central section and when unfolded in the same horizontal plane as and abut the side edges of the latter, swinging means connecting the central section of the table top extension with the slide extension for causing the inner end of the former to describe an upward and outward are when said table top extension is grasped and pulled upward and outward, and means for arresting the outward movement of the table top extension when the latter is resting on the top of said slide extension.

6. In a convertible table, a chambered slide extension, a foldable table top extension adapted when folded to rest in the sliding extension and when unfolded upon the top of said extension, and consisting of a central section and two wings hinged thereto to lie when folded upon said central section and when unfolded in the same horizontal plane as and abut the side edges of the latter, swinging means connecting the central section of the table top extension with the slide extension for causing the inner end of the former to describe an upward and outward arc'when said table top extension is grasped and pulled upward and outward, and stop braces secured to the slide extension in the path of the said means to arrest the same when the table top extension has been drawn outward and is resting on the top of the said slide extension.

7. In a convertible table, stationary sides, a crosspiece connecting the sides midway the ends thereof, provided with a vertical opening, a top having a pin depending through said opening, a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point and underlying the cross piece and engaging the pin to press the same downward and to'swing laterally thereon, and a bracket through which the lever extends with. capacity for vertical and lateral movement,'said bracket having -an arm to underlie or. overlie'the lever and vent vertical movement thereof. a

8. In a convertible table, stationary sides, a central cross piece connecting the sides midway the ends thereof, end pieces connecting the ends of the sides, atop having a pin..depending slidingly and lrotatably.

through the center of "said .first-named'cross piece, a staple extending through the lower end of said pin, a pair of stops for engagement by said staple to limit the rotatable movement of the table top to one-fourth of a circle back andforth, and a lever suitablyv fulcrumed and engaging said staple' to a'pply pressure thereon to raise the pmand top preliminary to rotatable movement prethereof, and means for engagement by said lever to secure the pin and top in elevated position or to clamp the top down upon the sides.

9; In a convertible table, a slide extension having parallel sides and bottom openings near said sides, a foldable table top extension adapted when folded to rest within the slide extension and when unfolded on top of the slide extension, and consisting of a central section and two wings hinged thereto to lie when folded upon said central section and when unfolded in the same horizontal plane as and abut the side edges of the latter, movable means connecting the central section of the table top extension with the slide extension and limiting outward movement of the former with respect to the latter, and braces pivoted to said wings and adapted to fold down upon the same when the table top extension is folded within the slide extension and to be disposed downwardly and inwardly and fitted at their free ends in the said openings of the slide extension, when said wings are'unfolded so as to serve as braces for the latter. 4 10.7 Inza convertible table, a rectangular frame, a slide extension having la bottom strip. provided at one edgewith a laterally projecting portion constitutinga shoulder and with a recess, and a turn-button pivoted to an end ofsaid frame and adapted to be disposed inthe path of said shoulder to limit outward movement of the slide exten- SlOIl-OI' to be dlsposed n said recess of said strip gto= lock the slide extension against end-1;

wise movement in either direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREIV H. STONE Witnesses I K. M. THoRrE,

G. YxTi-IORPE. 

